GIZ Country Director for Indonesia, ASEAN and Timor Leste, Martin Hansen, accompanied by both FORCLIME Director, Georg Buchholz and the FORCLIME Jakarta team, visited Pontianak, West Kalimantan Province on 17 - 18 May 2022. The visit included a coordination and cooperation meeting with the Governor of West Kalimantan which addressed the preparation of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) project, which has received support from the GCF Secretariat.

The delegation was received by the Governor of West Kalimantan, Mr. Sutarmidji, SH, M. Hum., in his office, who was accompanied by the Provincial Secretary, Dr. Harisson M.Kes., the Head of the Environment and Forestry Service, Ir Adiyani MH and Economic Advisor, Prof. Dr. Eddy Suratman, MA., as well as a lecturer and climate change expert from the Faculty of Forestry at Tanjungpura University, Prof. Dr. Gusti Hardiansyah MSC QAM IPU. During the meeting, plans were discussed for cooperation concerning the implementation of climate finance projects and information on development priorities within the province of West Kalimantan, particularly concerning forestry and natural land resource management as part of the activity programme plan that was outlined in a recent Green Climate Fund proposal.

The Governor of West Kalimantan affirmed the focus and commitment of the West Kalimantan Provincial Government in relation to the development of programmes that will hopefully operate in harmony while protecting the environment, and also emphasized programmes that will improve the welfare of the community. The governor also stressed the importance of synergy between the relevant stakeholders during efforts aimed at achieving the village community welfare target, as signposted through various indicators that are being implemented under the Developing Village Index (Indeks Desa Membangun), which is looking to generate more advanced, independent villages. In addition, the assembled parties also discussed various issues relating to climate change adaptation and mitigation, including the development and marketing of superior regional products.

During the visit, another meeting was also held with the Environment and Forestry Service and was attended by the West Kalimantan REDD+ Working Group. Led by the Head of the Environment and Forestry Service, the meeting began by introducing the West Kalimantan team, which was followed by an address given by the Director of FORCLIME that touched on various technical matters relating to the preparation period prior to implementation. Said technical matters included the implementation of a feasibility study and the preparation of a full proposal aimed at securing input on the planned program of activities.

The delegation then paid a visit to the West Kalimantan KPH Gallery, which is promoting non-timber forest products produced through the Forest Management Unit and Social Forestry programme. The first day’s session ended with a tree planting session (Agathis sp) which was held at West Kalimantan’s provincial city park area.

On the second day, the delegation visited the GIZ project office in West Kalimantan before meeting with the Faculty of Forestry at Tanjungpura University. The group was received by the Dean of the Faculty of Forestry, Dr. Farah Diba and the meeting was held in the Sylva Arboretum and addressed the management of the forest arboretum, which is located in the center of the provincial capital and is currently being managed by forestry students. The attendees also exchanged information on forest management with an eye on improved forestry development across the province of West Kalimantan.

For more information, please contact:
Dwi Wahyu Asti, Environment and Forestry Service of West Kalimantan Province
Jumtani, Advisor for Sustainable Forest Management and GCF Focal Point
Wandojo Siswanto, Strategic Area Manager for Forest Policy and Climate Change